An Israeli delegation left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said, hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to head to Washington to meet U.

The decision came after Hamas said it had responded positively to an American-backed cease-fire proposal. President Trump says he hopes for a truce as soon as next week.

A new round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel started on Sunday after the mediators—Qatar, Egypt and the U.S.—submitted a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza